Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-04
A STRONG PORER GAME.
An Editor Risks His Paper on HIs
Hand. but lie Dealt.

A few days ago Major Edwards, the
boss poker-player Of the Red-Riyer Val
ley, was in ST. Paul. DE came on bust
ness, but when his presence in the town
was known Frank Pettigrew, the whilom
congressman, and Melville Grigsby, the
South Dakota dictator, hunted him up,
and in less than an hour the three were
comfortably locked in a splendidly up
holstered Office in the rear of tue First
National Bank, with their hats drawn
over their eyes, fighting like bull
dogs over variegated jack pots. Grlgsby
and Pettigrew had the advantage, in
that they we're fighting on their own
heath, and fortune seemed inclined to
give the Major cold shoulder, but he
stood his ground well and met his losses
with the grit OF Spartan. All the AZ
ternoon and into the night the battle
waged, growing hotter each hour and
the beautifully colored red and blue
chips were gradually piling up under
the chins of Pettigrew and Grgsby,
while the Major had been COM
PEELED to lay several checks OF
good round proportions on the
table to meet the "stabs that
his antagonists were making Mt him.
The sweat was rolling down his face,
there was an anxious look in his eyes,
and he showed signs of nervousness. lie
was heavy loser, and it began to look
as though he would have to walk back to
Fargo. st last the cards We're passed TO
him to deal, and, shaking them together
carelessly, he laid them over on Grigsby's
side of the table to cut. Grigsby didn't
cut. Slowly the Major dealt the cards
until the hands were out. 1t cost hum
dred-dollar bill to stay, and Grigsby raised
il TO 500. Edwards saw that and dropped
his check for 500 more in the centre Of
the table. Pettigrew and Grigsby looked
curious. but they were in and had to
meet the raise, which they did.
"Cards?" said Edwards.
Gone :" said Pettigrew.
Gone |" said Grigsby.
Slowly the Major gave them their
cards, ard, pulling five from the pack,
laid them down in front of him.
"The devil !" thought Grigsby.
"What snap !" thought Pettiprew.
The Major picked up his cards and
glanced them over. Grigsby's eyes
snapped, for he had a queen full on
jacks. Pettigrew's eyes glistened, for
he had four kings. The Majors eyes
had sort of sad, sorrowful expression.
"I'll bet 81, 600 that my hand is good, "
said Pettigrew, showing up chips and
checks.
"TlI bet s., 900 that my hand is bet
ter" said Grigsby, raising Pettigrew's
bet.
The Major laid down his cards and
said:
"Gentlemen, I am broke. I've check
ed out to You the last cent I've got in
the bank, but if either of you want to
take a mortgage on my newspaper office
for $4,000, I'll give it to you, and bet
that amount of money that my hand
wins the pot"
cone of his old.time bluffs, thought
Grigsby and Pettigrew, and the latter
promptly said ON take the mortgage,
Major, and advance you the money, and
I'll call the bet.
"I1l do the same, " said Grigsby, fill
ing out blank check for $40, 900 and
laying it on the centre Of the table.
81 reckon I've got you, for here are
four kings" said Pettigrew, tossing his
cards down ahead of time.
1.-THE hi" calculated Grigsby,
crushing his queen full in his hand.
elem " said the Major. cts pref
ty tough, gentlemen, but l had to have
'em. Here are four aces. It's funny
how they stuck together that way"
He raked in the pile and the game
ended.
Outside Grigsby said to Pettigrew {;
"Did you ever see such luck ?"
Pettigrew replied "Luck ! You seem
to forget that twas his deal"